Chapter 2: Lions vs. Tigers
"Come on!"
Laval was tired of waiting; it had been a week since the messenger Crominus said he would send was sent, and there was still no response.
"What's taking so long?"
"Patience Laval, there are many reasons that could be behind their delay.", Lagravis said.
"It's been a week Dad; how long does it take for someone to get from Tiger territory and back?"
"Laval does have a point, your majesty. According to my knowledge, it's about a 4-day round trip to the territory given to the tigers and back. Its abnormal for them to take this long." Eris said.
"Crominus said that Cronk was his best spy, survivalist, and intelligence gatherer. I trust his choice.", Lagravis said.
"With all due respect, King Lagravis, I myself trust Cronk, but things can and often do go wrong with even simple reconnaissance missions.", Cragger said.
"Not in a time of peace, Cragger."
"And what if that peace is coming to an end already? Are we ready for another war?"
Lagravis didn't say anything, telling the 3 all they needed to hear.
"Tigers are approaching the temple!" a guard called out.
"See Laval," Lagravis said, "All it takes is a little patience."
Rather than listen, Cragger ran to the outer walls, his father's bow-like blaster in hand. To him, something still didn't seem right. Laval and Eris ran after him, still unsure what to think about the situation.
Cragger looked into the distance, at the approaching should-be guests. He counted 3 tiger strikers and 6 accompanying scout bikes, as was usual. But something still bothered him about the situation.
"No Speedorz."
"What?" questioned Laval.
"Cronk left on a Speedor, I see only tanks."
"He could be riding in one of them."
"True, but isn't the formation they're in offensive?" Eris said.
She too had taken a closer look and was now reasonably worried as she slid her own blaster out of its holster. Laval's eyes narrowed as he finally took a closer look. Eris was right, the formation they were in, with the Scout bikes in front of the tanks, forming a triangle-like formation, was an aggressive, offensive tactic. Not to mention if the Tigers were really coming to help, why had they not sent their entire forces? Laval knew that they had much more than 3 tanks. Finally, he noticed the guns. Ordinarily they would be concealed away, but not this time. They were ready to fire and pointing directly at the temple. Laval's eyes widened, in a split second, he grabbed both of his friends by their shoulders.
"DOWN!" he shouted.
All three hit the deck as a tank round exploded the tower behind them. Laval got back up and let out a roar of distress and danger.
"Close the gates! The Lion Temple is under attack!"
Eris and Cragger got back up and returned fire with their hand blasters. The shots bounced all but completely harmlessly off of the Striker's heavy armor as the tanks prepared another shot. They once more ducked as a tank shot shook the structure. Quickly looking at their guns, they realized just how almost humorously outmatched their hand weapons really were against the oncoming threat. And following Laval, retreated from the walls.
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Dust rained down from the ceiling as more shots shook the structure and more Lions ran through the room, carrying various weapons as they desperately ran to battle. Looking around frantically just as the three came running in in the midst of the chaos, Lagravis quickly spotted his son.
He ran forward, catching Laval in a hug, "Laval! I'm glad you're alright."
"Dad! The tigers have…"
"I know, Laval. I'm unsure of why they are so offensive at this point, but there's no time for that. Your uncle Lavertus is leading a counterattack in the Windshadow and can use your help. Get to your tank! I'll meet you on the battlefield!"
Lagravis then ran off as another loud boom shook the building. The three friends snapped into action.
"I'll scramble my jet," Eris said, "Cragger! I hope you brought your tank!"
Cragger pulled out the keys to the said tank from his pocket in answer.
"Good! I'll meet you all outside!" Everyone cried out as yet another shot rocked the Temple, "Hurry! This Temple's walls won't last forever!"
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The situation in the tank field was just as Chaotic as it was inside the Temple as mechanics attempted to get tanks in working order and both drivers and gunners climbed into their respective tanks, both trying to get as many as they could out of the access door as fast as possible. Laval and Cragger split as they both ran to their respective tanks, throwing themselves into the cockpits of the Mechanical Behemoths as fast as their bodies would allow. Laval quickly went to work interacting with the console as he powered up his tank, rumbling the ground as the hulking war machine made its way out of the tank field doors onto the battlefield as directed by the lion guards on the grounds of the temple courtyard.
Laval turned the tank around and out into the battlefield, being greeted by the pelting of fire from the attackers, causing him to cry out as artillery and blaster shots impacted on and around his vehicle. Lining up his targeting system, he squeezed the triggers on his steering, causing his side mounted cannons to flare to life as he drove his attackers back, actually destroying the tank that had been attacking him in the process, but surveying the scene, it seemed like reinforcement tanks had shown up, ready to strike when the Lions inevitably fought back.
Laval turned on his radio, "This is Thundercat calling Eagle-eye, come in eagle-eye?"
After a moment Eris' voice came over the speakers.
"This is Eagle-eye, I read you, over."
Then Cragger responded through his own radio,
"Why do we need to have these stupid nicknames?"
"They're not Nicknames, Swamp-skimmer, they're call signs." Laval said.
"Glad to hear you three are having fun, but I would prefer if you kept the radio chat professional," Lavertus was cut off over the comm by a large boom that was quickly followed by his own scream of terror, "Especially since I'm trying hard not to get blasted out of the sky!"
"I see you, hold tight, I'm on my way!" Eris said.
Laval's heart sank when he finally looked up to get a good look at the battlefield. In all of his time fighting for Chima, he had never seen such carnage of both man and machine as tanks, ground troops, as well as the two eagle jets and the Windshadow, attacked and retreated to avoid adding to the already high kill count on both sides.
Laval was suddenly snapped out of his stupor as he noticed one of the Tiger tanks about to fire on him. Gasping, he swerved the wheel hard to the right as a tank shot created a crater next to him. He swerved left and right, dodging the shots as he fired his own back. He called out on the radio.
"Guys, I'm under heavy fire next to the temple!"
"Hang on Laval! I'm on my way!" Cragger said.
"Remember that your tank is smaller, Cragger and therefore more maneuverable. Use that to your advantage."
Laval couldn't believe his ears.
"Dad!?"
"Don't worry Laval, I'll be out to help soon. We'll both get through this, I promise."
Laval sighed, famous last words.
"I've got him in my sights!" Eris cried over the radio.
"Then take the shot!" Laval said.
"No, if all three us fire at once, he might not be able to dodge it."
"Well can Cragger hurry up then? I'm not sure how many more shots I can dodge!"
"I'm almost there, just hang in there!" Cragger said, "Got him in my sights! Ready to fire!"
"Ok, ready…" Laval said.
"Aim…" Eris said.
"FIRE!" all three of them shouted this at once as the triggers of their respective vehicles, unleashing a barrage that the Tiger tank's drive was all but completely unprepared for.
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The "Battle of the Cats" as it had become known ended in a successful defense on the side of the Lions, though the temple had taken significant damage. However, the victory was short lived as they found a note that contained a declaration of war on one of the Tiger's Bodies for alleged "Mishandling of the Chi" signed by Tormak himself. Battle lines were quickly drawn As the Eagles, Crocs, and Gorillas joined the Lions in a desperate defense. The wolves, bound by duty to the Crocs, joined the Lions side as well (for a change). The Hunters, however, quickly allied with the Tigers, as they were more aware of their power and had more trust for their former old foes than the relatively newer Lions. With the Ice Bears once more active, the Bears went berserk and joined the Lions, giving them much needed support. The Battle-loving Rhinos joined the side of the Tigers due to their more offensive styles, same as Li'ella who quickly joined her father in the Tiger army, straining and effectively ending both Eris and Laval's relationships. The three friends themselves were quickly drawn into the war effort as generals for their respective tribes. As the war continued to press on for 6 months of continuous, across the country fighting, and after hearing of the possibility of getting rare fire Chi from the other side, the Ravens broke their neutrality and allied with the Tigers.
About a year after the Battle of the Cats, Laval returned to the repaired temple with Cragger and Eris after a successful defense of the Sanctuary Forest. Without a word to either of his friends or anyone else in the new base of operations, he made his way to his bedroom. Casting off his Armor, sword, and shield as he fell on his bed facing up at the ceiling, as the aches from his sore muscles and battle injuries both recent and healed bothered him, with one question on his mind: "How could this happen?" Exhausted, he closed his eyes and hoped that by the mercy of the Legend Beasts, his sleep would bring actual rest.
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